CAL FIRE awards contract to M1 Support Services
The five-year contract covers the provision of pilots and mechanics to support the agency’s aerial firefighting fleet in the US state of California
Aviation services provider M1 Support Services has been awarded a $699 million contract to support the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) over the next five years, beginning on 1 January 2026.
The contract covers the provision of pilots and mechanics to support CAL FIRE’s mixed rotary- and fixed-wing fleet of firefighting aircraft.
CAL FIRE responds to thousands of wildfires each year, and operates the largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet in the world, with 81 aircraft, including C-130H Hercules, Grumman S-2Ts, Bell UH-1H Super Hueys, Sikorsky S-70is, and Rockwell OV-10 Broncos.
“We are honored to have CAL FIRE place their trust in M1 to support this critical, no-fail mission,” said George Krivo, Chairman and CEO of M1 Support Services. “We look forward to supporting CAL FIRE in protecting the people, property, and resources of the state of California.”
CAL FIRE recently partnered with Sikorsky to support the development of autonomous helicopters.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.